Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Everton

Seamus Coleman – knee ligament damage
Vitalii Mykolenko – thigh strin
Tom Davies – hamstring injury
Ben Godfrey – groin injury
Andros Townsend – not back despite playing for U21s last week
Ruben Vinagre – still injured
Conor Coady – loanee excluded

If this isn't the usual Pickford banter, then that with getting subbed at halftime rules Holgate out for me.

My only thought is to play Garner there and put Onana in midfield but Wolves do have quick wingers so maybe drop McNeil in with Gray in front of him and play a lopsided wing-back system. Also, hasn't Iwobi played full-back on the right side before.

Oh dear… decisions, decisions.

Only Everton that.

Yes he is young, yes it is not ideal, but he is by far the best option.

Rooney and James Vaughan made their debuts at an early age, Colin Harvey was only 18 when he made his debut against Inter Milan.

We must keep the system that did so well against Brighton and we must not move the likes of McNeil or Garner to left-back messing up the balance of the team. And it would be suicide to change the system at this stage of the season to a back 3.

We must keep to 4-5-1 and if the manager says the right things to do is to play Samuels-Smith, he will be fine. He is a good confident player and he has trained with the first team and has been on the bench before so he isn't a stranger to the first team.

I am sure he would look forward to the challenge. And he is a left-back, so play him.

We must keep to the formation that beat Brighton.

Personally, I'd go back 3 and play Iwobi and McNeil as wingbacks, but I can't see Dyche changing formation now. Maybe it's just asking McNeil to sacrifice and try Gray in front of him on the wing. If the central midfield can cover runs forward, he could at least give us potency from that side too. Whoever it is needs pace and lungs.

You can't go a full season without injuries and you must have a Plan B for cover. But this is Everton we are talking about… who most of the time don't seem to have a Plan A.

Whoever walks on that pitch and plays in whatever position, the best advice I can offer is something a close friend and colleague used to quote in times of pressure, when the outlook was unpredictable and deep down, we didn't know the outcome.

"Hold your nerve. Anything is possible."

I got sent a link from Brian Murray today. A call for everyone attending to wear blue and create a blue wall along the side of the pitch, where they put us.

I don't usually wear colours, but I will. Paint the town blue and let them see and hear us. Even if you are not there, wear blue.

It's about the team on Saturday.

Regarding the full-back situation, I'll take my Puma Kings just in case.

My heart sank last week when I saw him on the team sheet. He should have left ages ago.

I said on another thread a few days ago, only EFC can get to the stage of only one left-back – Vinagre doesn't count as neither Lampard nor Dyche appear to rate him. Why was he brought in by our DoF? God knows.

Let us hope Wolves are wearing their flip-flops.

Hopefully next owners get rid.

Needed not only cover for fullbacks but competition for them. We got a failed, injury-prone midget from his last club instead. How inventive.

So you would risk messing up the whole team system to facilitate McNeil at left-back? Not to mention McNeil is one of our best bets for goals.

You say 'If he was ready, he'd already be in." Mykolenko is clearly ahead of Samuels-Smith but, with the injuries, he is now next in line and he is a good player who might revel in the situation.

Playing square pegs in round holes has never worked and I don't want to see Keane back in the dreaded Frank Lampard Back 3. Totally inviting trouble

Keep to the best system we have, 4-5-1 with only one position to be concerned about.

I find it hard to get any affection for Dyche but he has certainly been dealt a bum hand. It might sound ridiculous but I would play Townsend at left-back, he is an experienced player and he must be itching to play.

Keep last Saturday's other starting 10 in their same positions and hope and pray that no-one gets injured.

I definitely would be against trying Iwobi as a full-back, as the full-backs job is to tackle the winger and stop him crossing the ball, and it's not in his DNA to put your foot in.

It's going to be Holgate, isn't it?

It was also the same for Frank and Rafa, the curse continues.

This issue is not good news.

It is more of a risk doing anything else than playing Samuels-Smith at left-back. The damage done to the team in changing formation could be enormous. The damage in moving first team players around to cover the left-back position could also mess the team up.

Keep the changes to the team to a minimum to keep the continuity going. And that is play Samuels-Smith at left-back.
He will have Tarkowski at his side and McNeil in front of him to help him.

By far the best scenario.

A different opposition to City, but I don't think you can put Patterson or Holgate into left-back, and I'd be against 5 at the back as we just don't play it well. Putting in a raw kid is also a huge, huge gamble.

Pickford
Patterson
Mina
Tarkowski
McNeil

Gueye
Garner
Onana

Iwobi
Calvert-Lewin
Doucoure off left

That's a big side; alternatively, Maupay from the left and Doucoure drops back in for Onana.

I agree, he's very promising and has great pace. It hasn't worked putting square pegs in round holes and changing formation. Listening to Dyche today talking about the imbalance of the squad… take a bow, Board.

How about Patterson at left-back (he's a full-back) with Garner at right-back (he's right-footed), Onana in midfield?

Ishe Samuels-Smith is 16 still, I watched him a couple of weeks ago in the mini derby, he's a fantastic prospect but definitely in the "still learning the game" stage.

It's a killer that Godfrey is injured because, like Holgate, just okay as a reserve left-back if we're desperate.

Another option would be to do a switcheroo of full-backs. Patterson has filled in once or twice as a left-back in his early days. Holgate then plays his more natural right-back. Still a nightmare option and a lot to put on the young lad's shoulders. Garner a maybe, but I don't think he has any experience at all as a full-back.

There are no good options, but possibly the most natural would be to pay McNeil there, bringing Gray into the team and told to work like an animal defensively and pop a few quality crosses into Dominic every now and again.

Pickford
Patterson Mina Tarkowski McNeil
Garner Gana
Iwobi Doucouré Gray
Calvert-Lewin

I don't feel we've quite established what his best position is yet.

Pickford
Mina, Tarkowski, Keane (or Holgate)
Patterson Garner Onana Gana McNeil
Doucoure

Other option would be Gray in place of Onana, with Gray supporting Calvert-Lewin and Doucoure dropping deeper.

Don't change the system at this stage of the season.

I can tell you one position which definitely isn't his best…s adly it's the same position we signed him to play!

No change to the system.

Keep the other 9 outfield players exactly where they have started over the last few games.

Play the best available at left-back. The options are:

A left footed reserve midfielder who knows how to tackle and mark.

Ishe Samuels-Smith.

Anything else is football suicide.

Holgate would have been in the reckoning but, thanks to the short-sighted boo boys, his confidence is now wrecked and I doubt he could play at right-back now never mind left-back.

Holgate got sent off for chopping them down last time he played right-back.

McNeil is one of our better attacking options with his left foot, so leave him on the left wing.

Left Back at Finch Farm! :-)

The more likely solution is a 3-5-2 which actually looked like a reasonable shape at the end of the Man City game.

If this an end-of-season dead rubber, then yes, it would be a nice time for Ishe Samuels-Smith but too much is riding on this.

To Wolves U19s!

And a vital game in the club's history.

Great job, board… 🙄

I agree with almost everything you say, usually.

Not on this point. I think changing to 3-5-2 is far too risky. It was used against Man City merely as damage control. Not to win a game. And it also had the luxury of having Coady in the back 3. The thought of 'mistake every game' Keane coming back in is a No. Three big centre-backs is the last thing we need.

The Wolves game is a must-win. We need the continuity of the 4-5-1 system to have any chance of that.

The lesser risk in my view is keeping everything as it is and use either Ishe Samuels-Smith or a makeshift left-back from the reserves.

To change the system now could mess everything up as it did for the Man Utd and Fulham games and, if Mykolenko is back for the Bournemouth game, are we going to change the system back to 4-5-1 to play him. You're breaking one of your own 'Golden rules'!

I was so wrong about Man City being toast against Real. Come to think of it, it could be a good thing if they won the Champions League since Everton are Saints in comparison financially.

Everton played well against them, if only Dyche had been more savvy tactics-wise in the first half.

Inter won't be slow as far as defensive tactics are concerned.

3 centre-backs, 2 wing-backs, 3 midfielders, plus a link-up midfielder and a striker up top makes too much sense not to do. But then it made sense for most of the season and we didn't do it.

We end up in that formation anyway. McNeil comes back to fill in for whatever rubbish is behind him. The defender then slots across inside him. It just happens in a haphazard way rather than by design. Might as well do the obvious and actually play that formation.

We score on the break or by set-pieces, not by breaking teams down on the outside with wingers.

I'd imagine he'll now go to the only formation that ever suited the shape of our squad.

Your peglet idea of an untried kid against the likes of Traore is too big a risk. Much bigger than playing a seasoned pro who's been doing full-back protection for 5 years.

'Much bigger (risk) than playing a seasoned pro who's been doing full back protection for 5 years' – I'm glad you agree that McNeil is the perfect player to carry on where he is and protect Samuels-Smith then. Although he might find Samuels-Smith supporting him with his electric pace.

I will say I would prefer McNeil dropping back to left-back than changing the system and formation.

I can't see any news about Adama Traore out, only Boubacar. It's pretty pedantic either way as I said “the likes of...” Neto, Nunes, Cunha, Hwang, etc would all have a field day against your 16-year-old kid, who has zero Premier League minutes under his belt.

I don't like the idea of losing McNeil from left-wing either, but we have a round peg in Gray who plays best there too. Gray and McNeil is a far better bet than someone not old enough to buy a pint and McNeil. At least when there's 𧴜M and the threat of relegation and administration riding on it…

If we were safe, your idea would be a blinder. Right now, I'm thinking it's borderline abuse to put 16-year-old in that situation.

I feel we are in with a shout at Wolves, and (as stated earlier) if Townsend is anywhere near fit, he has to be a bonus option from the bench? He is a very canny player and has a great work ethic. He can also score from distance. Worth bringing on if we are level at 70 minutes for the pure hell of it?

Of course, the club chose to loan out Nkounkou, bringing in Vinagre who has largely been overlooked for whatever reason. That conundrum is on Thelwell in my book.

Come on you blues, make us proud.

Let's keep the faith and spirit of the last 3 games and Everton will beat Wolves.

UtFTs!

But tell me was it abuse when Rooney scored for us at 16 against the mighty Arsenal or when James Vaughan scored at 16?

This lad is an excellent talent and keeping everybody else in the same positions is the most sensible option.

To digress, is there no-one else in the U21s who Baines can't single out to be a good option for one game? Whether we sink or swim can depend on us getting this right.

By the way, the abuse you talk about was what Holgate received when he was asked to do the impossible. Square peg in round hole.

I hope Holgate is mentally strong enough to shrug off the pack of hyenas disguised as Evertonians, who are hounding him and baying for his blood. As a right-sided player, he was wrong-footed down the left and cruelly exposed by Mahrez, a world-class player.

McNeil and Tarkowski would need to be on their toes to provide cover and prevent a repeat against Wolves. But even so, I'm convinced that with Mykolenko and Godfrey injured, Holgate must play. It would be folly to switch him and Patterson from left to right. Patterson could well encounter the same problems.

Let's get behind the lad now on here and continue on all social media platforms in the run-up to the game. When the match begins, cheer instead of taunt him. Boost his confidence. The past is gone, we have two games to salvage our future. Let Mason know that we have faith in him in our hour of need.

It's the Wolves in Amber jerseys he needs to battle with, not the 'wolves' in blue and white scarves.

Cut the boy some slack, he may just reward us with a Man of the Match performance and make all of his detractors eat their cruel words.

I've seen this sort of thing before when it becomes fashionable to turn on a player, singling him out to be slagged off. Two full-backs from different era's come to mind: Sandy Brown, who scored a beauty in his own net in a derby game, and Alan Harper. Both were really reserve players who came in for stick from the crowd. Yet both gave their all in Royal Blue.

Holgate admittedly has been error-prone. His hesitation could be a confidence issue. If he's selected against Wolves, I'm calling on all Evertonians to roar him on in a positive way, in order to get the best out of him. It could create the response we all need.

Nothing would give me greater satisfaction.

To borrow Phil's phrase, I'm a confirmed Holgate Hyena, and I can't imagine anything worse in this situation... except all the suggested alternatives -- McNeil, Tarkowski, Patterson, Gana, Garner, Iwobi or a 16-year-old kid making his debut in a 𧴜 million game.

Oh, how I wish Townsend were all the way back... ...

But the simple fact is that, as bad as Holgate is, there's no other choice. All we can do is stick him back in there, close our eyes, and hope he comes up with a game. He did it last season in similar circumstances. Maybe he will again.

Nothing would give me greater satisfaction either.

We all felt relief and euphoria after smashing Brighton 5-1 but the reality is, if Leeds do get a positive result against a likely jaded West Ham side and we fail at Wolves, then that last day will be fraught with danger.

In normal seasons, I would have backed our home form but it's been atrocious this season, and well ever since before lockdown it's been appalling.

We need to do everything we possibly can to win tomorrow.

McNeil should be left exactly where he is as he covers lots of ground, gets crosses in, and is a goal threat for us.

I'm not even a great admirer of Calvert-Lewin but he was the one player we did not need to miss this game as he gives the rest of the team an outlet.

I'm not worried about the other relegation-threatened teams losing but I do hope Wolves lose.

COYB

I don't care who is playing or not playing for Wolves.

I don't care who is playing or not playing for Everton.

When in that stadium, we are behind all of those players privileged to wear the royal blue shirt and take to the pitch. Every single one of them.

Mason got a rough deal last Sunday. Out of position, had an off day, but in the context of playing against the best team in Europe, Champions League winners elect who destroyed Real Madrid days later. Deliberately stretching our full-backs. No shame in that.

I didn't like the reaction of some when he was taken off. Not all, I hasten to add, just some.

If he plays tomorrow, and if he plays left-back, then for at least one of the halves, he is alongside a royal blue wall of the travelling blue army. He's got my support if he's on the pitch. As he will have for the majority, I'm sure of that.

I get frustration and opinions, but right now it's about supporting and encouraging them.

I hope he scores the winner in the 92nd minute and then comes over at the end to receive the plaudits.

Get behind the players and the team. Other matters can wait. The players and manager have been left on their own, as have we. We are in this together.

Holgate is not a full-back, Godfrey is not a full-back, and they are always going to struggle in a system that doesn't play very deep and keep eleven men behind the ball.

We only have one real centre-forward and only one genuine left-back on our books. I honestly used to have more options when I was running a Sunday league team.

Just look at our squad is all we need to say.

UTFT!

It'll all come down to the Bournemouth game imo.

Securing safety or relegation is in our hands.

3 points tomorrow and imho we are safe but need a big clear-out and reshuffle for next season as I fear we may not be so lucky.

Enjoy the sun and weekend, fellow blues. 💙

In recent weeks, Dwight McNeil has stepped up and been our best performer, and tomorrow we will need top-class performances from a few more. The manager has very few options, and most of us believe that 10 of the players who started last week are our best available.

So that just leaves the left-back position, and surely we can find someone who can frustrate their winger and take throw-ins? Seems simple enough to me as after all we are a premiership football club and we badly need to start playing and acting like one.

The starting eleven will need to show resolve tomorrow. Nothing less than a win will do at this stage, anything less and it has to go to the final game.

Good luck to all who will be part of the blue wall, your teams needs you!

He did his best for fuck's sake, yet he was hounded. Not good enough? Maybe; but he's a decent lad, can play football but a) he's not a left full-back and b) he was up against probably the best attack in Europe. He was left marking Haaland for his headed goal, who's about 7 foot twelve!

I think the lads and lasses who go away tomorrow, will back all our team to the hilt. I certainly hope so, to to see a lad in tears as this lad was is not on at all.

I think it'll come down to the last game. I hope and think, we as supporters will back all the lads playing for us. Everyone of them will be giving all they've got. No one should get stick when they're pulling their tripes out,

As someone has already said, don't blame any of these lads, blame should lie at the crew who've made millions sitting on their arses in the boardroom while leaving our first team squad, with the bare bones of a squad to save our Premier League life.

Might as well just play another centre-back and have McNeil as wing-back. It's not like McNeil ever plays as a winger high up the pitch. We don't have enough of the ball to do that. He breaks into positions from deep.

Mess about with the team formation or shuffle the players around to cover for Mykolenko and we will not beat Wolves.

The choice is play Ishe Samuels-Smith, who was on the bench a few weeks ago, so presumably Dyche was ready to play him, play Holgate who suffered disgraceful abuse from some fans last week, or someone else from the reserves.

I would play Samuels-Smith and McNeil will be in front of him giving some help and cover.

If you're gonna be a success at this Manager Pro Tem business, I think you're gonna have to get a better handle on things.

Everton Reserves have not existed as such since who knows when... actually Season 2011-12 — that's 11 years ago!!!

And surely a manager should be familiar with all the players available to him at Finch Farm, so it's a bit rich just offering up this throw-away approach of picking "someone else from the reserves."

I mean, isn't that slapdash approach to team management what has gotten us in this dreadful predicament in the first place?

NSNO

Playing McNeil there would take too much away from the team as a whole in my view. He already drops in there to cover but using him as a full-back would leave us short in midfield and attack. Yeah, he could use Gray, but he never uses Gray, does he?

He won't use a young 'un either, that's potential suicide if it goes awry.

Expect the same team as last week, just with Holgate instead of Mykolenko.

One win will do it now, I reckon – if we beat Wolves, that leaves Leicester and Leeds needing to win both their games. I can't see that happening.

I also think Moyes will play a stronger team than people think against Leeds because the Europa Conference League Final isn't until 7 June which is almost 3 weeks away.

I can still see Leeds and Forest getting a result out of their last 2 games; however, 3 points at Wolves then it really is totally a one-game shoot-out. Anything less, then I fear for us.

Hopefully Dyche makes minimal changes both to personnel and team set-up. I hope he doesn't go gung-ho or try another formation. Stick with one up top and try and replicate the Brighton tactics, keeping a tight defensive shape.

The players, manager and supporters are not to blame.

We have been left with the menu we have to chose from.

All I care about from these next two matches is my Everton. Not theirs. It isn't theirs. It is ours.

Let's go and do it.

On our own like they have left us to it. Shithouses.

I'll see you in Wolverhampton. See you at Goodison next week.

I won't because you are cowards who do not care for this club as much as I and thousands of others do.

Apologies for my usual emotional outburst.

Whoever's playing at left-back will be less of a concern if we attack from the start. Sitting back and trying to counter will expose our weaknesses at the back.

Wolves have nothing to play for. We can't afford to concede first. We know how that will end.

I do think however, that the win at Brighton was so outstanding (and unexpected) that anything other than a forced change would be daft.

Very much the mantra of Dyche. Hence, the only issue should be who plays at left-back. Don't we all wish that there was an obvious solution?

Ishe Samuels-Smith is one for the future, not now. He was on the bench most probably to get experience of, well, being on the bench initially.

Do we rate his defensive qualities more than his attacking qualities? The former is what we need at the moment but I'd suggest that's the weakest part of his game.

Throw them AT the Wolves, not TO the Wolves!

UTFT!!

My choice would be either Gana or Onana. Gana may be the best available tackler or Onana as more mobile and they may be interchangeable but Onana better at getting forward behind McNeil. Consideration would also have to be given to Wolves continually playing balls from wing to wing.

Still, it's Mr Dyche's ١.5M bonus on the line.

Their recent Villa result in particular is concerning; Villa are absolutely flying but went here last week and came away with nothing.

I think we have to be realistic and say that a point here is a very good result (we're shit, remember), regardless of the fact that (hopefully temporarily) our fate would then pass out of our hands and we would be in the lap of the gods.

Sometimes you just have to be grateful you have a chance. If anyone had told us last year we'd be going again, only this time we would only have Maupay up front instead of Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison and Gordon, I don't think anyone would have thought we could do it, yet here we are.

Watching the likes of Holgate and Godfrey playing instead of a proper full-back is more to do with who the manager trusts and has seen rather than a proper performance pyramid from the junior teams.

I would go with the young lad Samuels-Smith to start at full-back rather than the mess we witnessed last week.

If I was the Wolves manager, I would start with Traore but thankfully he appears to be out of favour with him.

I wouldn't be surprised if Mykolenko played with a painkiller tomorrow.

We are a mess of a club but they are our mess. Regardless of who plays, the fans will 100% support them. Sit tight and hit them on the break similar to the Brighton game. The onus should be on the home team to press us which should hopefully play into our hands.

Coyb.

It is a question of starting position and cover provided by the now excellent McNeil.

Hopefully Mina is fit as he's the organiser. Hopefully Calvert-Lewin is fit as he can peg Wolves back and ease the pressure on a makeshift defence.

COYB

Trying to be a smart alec is not helpful whatsoever.

'Reserves' is just a term to cover the U18s, U21s and fringe players.

I am of the opinion that changing the formation or shuffling the players round is the worst thing we can do.

I have suggested using Samuels-Smith or Holgate and as I do not know all the 'reserve' players, I said in an earlier comment surely there must be someone else who could cover this position. Maybe Baines could help with his opinion.

Clearly I have bugged you, Micheal, when all I am trying to do is give my opinion on what I think we should do.

I am worried, worried sick about our situation, we are close to being relegated and cannot afford another defeat, you clearly just want to sound clever. I don't expect an apology but I recommend you concentrate solely on what is good for the team!

Unbelievable!

From what I have read, Wolves generally play a 4-4-2 formation which has proved successful at home, less so away. Perhaps we need to make this game feel like an away game for them. Our fans can obviously play a part in that.

On the pitch, it seems to me we must control the midfield, deny Wolves the majority of possession, and make sure we do not leave ourselves open to counter-attacks in the naive way we did on Boxing Day. Above all, we must capitalise on our opportunities when they arrive.

If they play a high press, then we do it as at Brighton, sit deep and raid them. If they sit deep, we cannot afford to let the game just go on, we have to press from the front and close them down, make them make mistakes.

If we have to, be adaptable and change it around: Plan A, Plan B at the drop of a hat – no waiting for half-time, for them to score.

For substitutes, change it at 5 minutes if need be. We must score first… we go to win, we don't go to draw.

Forget the fact that he gets roasted by any attacking player with a pulse every time he plays, struts around the pitch looking uninterested and then allows the opposition to by-pass him while he's munching his Wrigley's Extra due to a lack of spatial awareness.

Remember all the passes to the opposition every time he plays, and the panic he creates for the defence and keeper with his inability to calmly pass out of defence – which has led to own-goals by his teammates and calamitous mistakes from an erratic Pickford.

There is only one redeeming feature in his arsenal, and that's his knack of nicking a goal or two, which begs the question: Why wasn't he chosen up front for much of this season, in place of Maupay, as he definitely has a better chance of scoring than our alleged striker.

It would be a shame to put McNeil at left-back as he has been our best player recently and is the best provider for Calvert-Lewin. The fact that we have no options to play a specialist left-back speaks volumes about our recruitment.

Please Everton, for once, turn up, apply yourselves with maximum effort, don't make stupid mistakes, and get yourselves out of this mess when you have the chance to do so.

This is massive.

I hope you are fortunate to be at the Molineux tomorrow like the rest of us. About 3,000 of us.

Maybe if he plays and performs, you can cheer him on and hopefully congratulate him at the end.

Is he great? No. Far from it. But with all the absentees, he is what we have. So let's hope he and the team put in a performance and get a result.

Craig, just keep those blue fingers crossed.

You don't punch to the target Davey, you're supposed to punch through it. His head has pretty much gone. He'll be thinking about Leeds late Saturday night if at all. And when he does, he'll be thinking:

"Now the final's only a couple of weeks off… if I play any of these tired heroes, they might get injured. Better for everyone if I play fresh players who want to force their way into my plans."

He'll go to bed thinking he's doing us a favour dropping his first team, cos that's what I reckon he's going to do.

His crosses are crap, with the vast majority going out for a throw-in on the other side of the pitch. Holgate will also get the backing of every Blue tomorrow, of that there is no doubt.

Playing the game without a proper left-back is a big handicap for starters.

I think Dyche will play Holgate, the lad's not left-footed so you can't expect him to shine.

That's the option I would go for nevertheless and keep the rest of the team that beat Brighton, that is if Calvert-Lewin is truly fit, there has to be a doubt about him also.

The betting on the match is 7/4 each to win, take your pick, with the draw a likely outcome at 11/5.

That's the way I see it also, I think anything can happen.

Leeds will likely get a result at West Ham and Forest may do the same against Arsenal as Arsenal have lost a lot of confidence of late.

It's all very worrying.

Like a lot of common-sense posters on here, I felt very sorry for Holgate last week being pitched in at left-back against Mahrez. The vitriol he got was out of order.

He will need to play a game role again tomorrow in all likelihood and rely on Dwight tracking back to help him.

We should really go for it tomorrow. All or nothing.

Only the downside is Coady being ineligible, so it's up to Keane to have his feet and head in the right places.

I don't know what's wrong with Holgate nowadays, just needs to sort it out ASAP and perform to his best of what we've seen before! COYB.

As for bleeding hearts, it is our club facing relegation. Whoever Dyche picks is what our manager thinks is his best men and best formation. Are you going to boo him then, considering not good enough?

We have two games to rescue our fucking club from relegation. I'm sure we'll be saved booing players we don't like.

Mark 98, well said.

Danny 109, Spot on.

God is a Blue so 3 points please.

Coyb.

We'll find out during the match if Gray will have a good impact on Everton's performance, nevermind in the last match of the season.

A draw wouldn't be the end of the world but, if Dyche plays his cards right, we can win this.

The main thing is to stay clear of the Bottom 3. A win would obviously be brilliant. But chasing a win and losing would be a bad outcome.

Hence the need for a bit of restraint throwing a 16-year-old into the mix (albeit a very classy one). Jim: unfortunately there isn't really anyone else other than maybe Elijah Campbell who is a bit older at 18 but more of a centre-back than a left-back (although he is, I think, left-footed). No reason to expect him to outperform Holgate though, for all people don't like Holgate.

A draw would prolong the agony but may be a good outcome in the grand scheme of things.

Also, as Paul (82) says, Lopetegui hinting at picking fringe players. He's also said that he was misled over Wolves' transfer plans, maybe he's planning his own departure. Hopefully all of these distractions are slight advantages for us.

Don't forget there were quite a few who thought Stones was overrated.

We have a poor record at Wolves since they came back up but I believe we will get the points.

Also, these players are professionals getting paid staggering amounts of money and should be capable of playing in a different position on the field, or am I naive?

As always you talk a lot of sense. Thanks for the info on Campbell.

My instinct is to stick with 4-5-1. It has done well in recent away games and has got us the 4 Dyche wins. Dyche tinkered with things after the Doucoure sending off and that may have caused the Fulham setback.

I'll stick with my gut feeling that playing an orthodox left-back, even if he is young, is better than changing things around.

In my opinion, if you play a youngster, it is on the manager to say the right things to him, tell him there is nothing to worry about, it's on me. Motivate him in the right way.

Playing Rooney at 16 did him no harm, except maybe his head got bigger!

Those who understand need no explanation.

Apologies, I'm getting into matchday mode and I've still got a long way to go.

I can't wait. Tomorrow can't come soon enough.

Spirit. Forever. Trinity.

We go and do this.

I hope you have a perfect day!

COYB!
WSNBM!

"Bleeding Hearts" … Really poor stuff.

I've opened the bar so it's ready to roll at 10 am tomorrow.

This left-back situation for me is tough. I'd not play Holgate, he has been awful. Someone above said before and I concur – bump Tarkowski to left-back and bring Keane in with Mina. For me, that's the only choice.

Same spot as last year. Second to last game can keep us safe. We gotta win this.

But I'm hoping Moyes shows a bit of loyalty to the club he christened "The People's Club" and play's his first 11 and sickens Big Sam, considering they have 18 days to recover for the final.

I'd play McNeil at left-back with Gray ahead òf him. Against Brighton, he was back helping the defence, so he'd still be an attacking threat.

Personally, I think Holgate is shot. He was in tears last week when he was brought off so I think the only solution is to play McNeil there with Gray just in front or Garner instead of Gray to back McNeil up.

We cannot allow Wolves to score because they are difficult to score against.

The same can be said about Thierry Small about the head!

I remember that game, Frank, where he played Mason Holgate in front of defence. Not a bad shout that, but maybe the time for experimenting isn't now.

Garner, Gray and McNeil are 3 classy footballers who might just give us a chance of bagging a goal or two. McNeil's come on a bundle, Garner looks a good fit, and Gray is good at making chances and taking free kicks. So we've got good players, let's hope they click tomorrow. Brrr....

McNeil has been immense in being a real threat and simultaneously providing fantastic cover for anyone at left-back. The kid's effort and stamina are sublime.

I'd not, in a million years, move him. Plug the hole that needs to be plugged – don't create two holes! McNeil is not a left-back! Moving him there, you weaken that position as well as left-midfield.

I'd prefer Godfrey to Holgate at left-back, neither fill me with much confidence. I'm going for a spirited 1-2 to the Blues. COYB.

The least impractical is Holgate again, but I agree with others, he looked shot last time. It's almost cruel to play a guy who I think now realises he is not at the level of Premier League and out of position as well. He doesn't have the mental resolve to cope, still less the ability.

So what else? Both Vinagre (who?) and Godfrey are injured. A teenager who I'm not sure is even in the country is hardly an answer. I'm against the idea of our best current performer (McNeil) being neutered by being out of position.

Short of a painkiller for Mykolenko, the best (not really the right word), options seem to me to be Gana, who is experienced and can tackle, or maybe Tarkowski. He has played there, albeit barely at all. Problem is, that means you have to bring Keane back at centre-back. If it wasn't for that, it would be a more obvious choice.

Least bad options and all that. But at least we keep a midfield and attack, which has shown signs of working, intact. Hopefully Wolves will send their first team on their hols.

"… that headless chicken Adama Traore, who runs like Forrest Gump"

I seem to remember that in the home game against Wolves we lost the ball on the edge of our own area and Traore was screaming for the ball.

When he received it, he ran with it into our area before looking up and squaring the ball towards the far post where he had seen at least three Wolves colleagues running into space.

The rest is history. Just proves every dog has his day and most pro footballers can produce given time and space.

Our left-back that day? Mykolenko.

My gripe is, I'm just sick of watching players representing my club – and becoming extremely wealthy to boot – who are nowhere near capable of competing at this level.

No, I don't blame the likes of Holgate, Maupay etc who are being recruited and picked, it's at the management and boardroom level where the problem lies.

In all my years supporting this basket-case of a club, never once did I vent my anger and disgust at the likes of Darracott, Biley, Angell et al, but gave them all my support, despite leaving grounds up and down the country wondering why I bother.

My first match as a kid had the team printed in the centre of the proggramme, and I can still relate that roll call with ease: West, Wright, Wilson, Kendall, Labone, Harvey, Husband, Ball, Royle, Hurst and Morrisey. That team was almost set in stone for a few seasons, and looking back, I often wonder where it all went wrong?

That lot over the park evolved by replacing their ageing players one by one, whereas we would wait until they're all over the hill, and bring in 7 at a time, hoping that they will miraculously gel. That's what we're left with today.

And Danny, I won't be at Molineux in body, but if I was, I would be doing what I always have, and giving the team 100% support, which I know you will. I just hope we get through this, and summer sees the departure of the worst Evertonian ever to enter our club.

I don't think three centre-backs is a good thing with error-prone Keane. Need to counter-attack, like against Brighton.

I meant to add to my post that, every now and again, Traore will produce something out of the blue – although very infrequent, I might add.

Unfortunately for us, that was the day when he did produce something, although, even he couldn't fuck that up as he had absolute acres of space. He's still shit though.

But Valladolid beats it for pronunciation ("Balyatholith" - the V as "B", the double L as "ly" and the d as "th") - Balyatholith.

So I'm going for the latterrrr.

Yeah, yeah, Valladolid it is for exactly that reason.

Tomorrow, the travelling Blue Wall and the Everton team will prevail.

Keep the faith and belief.

UTFTs!

If you call fellow supporters "bleeding hearts", what does that say? Because you don't have the same thought process of other Blues who see a lad play his football and get vilified. That isn't a bleeding heart – it's seeing what negativity does to a footballer playing for Everton.

If Holgate is in the team, then the manager put him there for a reason. I thought us as supporters understood that pulling our own players down gives us less chance of coming out of this nightmare and our competition more.

The basket-case of a club is right, we all feel so frustrated with the mess that's been made. I went through the late '50s and into the '60s and saw Sir John Moores build up a great squad beginning with the players Johnny Carey bought and the football was magical.

Catterick come along, and there's difference of opinions with his management style. I couldn't stand the bugger, but until, around the early '70s, we started going off the boil, we were a good club with good sides until Sir John couldn't keep control.

You know the rest. I went away as well. We all saw Liverpool build up a massive football reputation while we had Howard Kendall, then basically scraps.

We come to this now, where we have injuries at the worst time, we have had poor selections by the Board over 6 or 7 years of first of all a great chance of doing what Newcastle are doing, until now when were trying to avoid relegation.

None of this is the players' doing. If they're not good enough, the club should have had a better plan, but it didn't! A hopeless plan run by a Chairman who should have left decades ago.

We've got a choice haven't we – that's not a cheap point. We support those who play, or we don't. My view is that the aim should be well and truly aimed at the Chairman, and the Chief Executive Officer. Maybe the major shareholder, but without him we'd have been skint years ago, seeing as we refused Sheikh Masoud… allegedly!

Paul #149, that's the spirit mate. We are going to Wolves for the win and nothing less.

We can do this.

UTFT!

Holgate is not the perfect solution tomorrow but he is the least worst. He was not responsible for the goals that we conceded against Man City. Michael Keane is a much bigger risk.

Everton are magic!

UTFT!

See you at Euston, Danny!

Dale, Brent. Cadiz always makes me think of the classical guitar piece of the same name played by Julian Bream, composed by the genius Isaac Albeniz. I used to attempt to play it before deafness and injury claimed me. One of a few classical guitar pieces that make me weep with joy and sadness. You can see Bream playing it on YouTube.

I think it would be more important to have in tomorrow's game our best starting XI than in our last game, home against Bournemouth. That´s because I believe that it can after all be a little bit more difficult to get the win at Molineux than at Goodison with the full house and the ferocious backing of our fans, whatever the situation then may be.

So I would suggest that Dyche should take a calculated risk with Calvert-Lewin and Mykolenko tomorrow. I mean that, if they could play, for example with the aid of painkillers, I would encourage to take that risk. Only if there was a danger to get a long term, or even a career threatening injury, they should of course be rested.

So if at all possible, start with them, or put them at least on the bench. Seeing them in the squad would surely boost the morale and give more confidence, for us supporters at least.

Imo, Dyche and his coaching staff, and of course the players themselves, too, must now put the cause and benefit of Everton FC in the first place. There are only two games left and then the whole summer to get really fit once again.

And as said, I would prefer Calvert-Lewin and Mykolenko playing tomorrow rather than a week later. Imo we can cope without them better at Goodison, if it were to be the "cost" of playing them tomorrow, and especially if we have won at Wolves.

If after all Calvert-Lewin is unavailable tomorrow, I really hope that Dyche selects Simms to lead our line, because he also has that physicality and heading power we need up front.

We must hope and believe that all the Everton players who cross the white line at Molineux will play out of their skin. Surely the Everton fans will once again be at their best and our players must match that!

And at the same time almost leading us back to the Live Forum fish puns. One for tomorrow?

Reality, is, and so stick together, and beat Wolves!

Stakes are high, but Everton, can rise from the Ashes of a a very tough season, tomorrow, and move, gradually into better times.

A point will be massive, a win, could be Victory, in terms of the viable survival of EFC, this, but could take the issue to the Bournemouth game at Goodison Park. It's in Evertons control.

The Blue Wall, Real and virtual, tomorrow, will not be moved,

“Everton! Forever, where ever, Everton!”

On a serious, match going note,as many know, it's not the most friendly of away grounds, all be careful, via car, train or coach, push bike.

God speed, and safety, and Victory for Everton.

Pray Arsenal beat Forest, West Ham, beat Leeds on Sunday lunch time,, and on Monday, Newcastle beat Leicester.

A lot to ask, but so needs must.

“Whats Our Name?”

UTFTs!

Liquid courage!

Tomorrow, 20 May 2023, v Wolves!

UTFTs

We agreed that, if Calvert-Lewin is fit, then we should win both remaining games. The fans will make one heck of a racket and if the players are right in their faces then their players may not fancy it.

Who to play at left-back is a tricky one and I'd go for Tarkowski with Keane at centre-back. NcNeil to provide cover to Tarkowski so he doesn't get done for pace. If in need, bring on Gray, Onana and Simms. Lots of height for set-pieces.

PC turned up at the pub in full cowboy fancy dress sourced from his dressing-up box (don't ask why- there was no function on at all). If our boys turn up in as bold a fashion, then 3 points are ours!

Get in!!!!!

Current Everton Chants

Walking a beach in Donegal... dark now but the roar of the waves reminds me of the last time I was at Goodison.

Still off the alcohol.

UTFT!

ps: I don't have a problem – other than fecking Everton.

If we are going to get out of this, Calvert-Lewin must be fit for the last two games. If he is, left-back will sort itself out. Holgate is the only sensible option unless Godfrey has recovered.

Sorry to have hit a nerve there – it's just that I was triggered by your repeated use of that archaic term for what the rest of us now call the Academy.

This feeling was admittedly compounded by the vagueness of your advice to throw in "someone else from the reserves" – which struck me as an unfortunate lapse in diligence for your adopted role as Fantasy Manager.

It's just that I believe the depth and sincerity of the analysis provided by the welter of alternative advice to the manager on this thread in the build-up to such a huge and critical match needs to be of the highest quality with no room for mistakes or misinterpretations.

I'd also be concerned, after going through all this effort, how you must feel about the teamsheet when announced or the formation when realised on the pitch, if your recommendations have not been followed?

It would bug the hell out of me and be a source of constant frustration throughout the game if the manager had made such an obvious mistake – as many claim he did last week.

Actually, that's exactly what the early comments on the matchday thread last week focussed on – complete exasperation that the manager had selected the wrong team!

I think there's a lot to be said for Danny's approach to such things – he says he doesn't get hung up on who's playing. It's not exactly saying the manager is always going to get it right but he has to have more information than any of us on which to base his team selection, I would think.

It's not even certain that Traore will play, Holgate's just had the mother of all mares, so baring an out-of-left field and even more out of position selection.

I would go with Godfrey, who is big enough and fast enough to handle him using old-style full-backing 101: the ball can go past you, or the man can go past you, but not both... run him into the corner.

"Show him the Nettles" (very hard but fairly obviously 😆 – clatter him over the line and off the pitch into said nettles), as one of my old managers used to say.

Saturday. Well this is it blue boys.
Let's roll.

Next week we could possibly be celebrating the departure of Moshiri and his merry men and be looking forward, finally, to a game at Goodison against Bournemouth knowing our future is secure for the time being.

So take yer coat off and get moving - and pray that the sun is still shining at 5 O'CLOCK tonight.

CL will start and maybe Wolves will field a weakened side also, its pointing that way lets hope so.

Safe journey all.

Wishing all those brilliant away fans travelling from all over the place a great time and a great performance from the team although that is not vital as long as they bring those 3 points home. COYB.

Hoping to have a last match meet-up at the Harlech Castle again. Peter Moore and a Cornish Blue (not a cheese, by the way) are coming up, so hoping we can repeat that amazing pre-match atmosphere like at the Fulham game – only the team let us down.

Hope to see you all, and Dave W, get that song sheet learnt! lol.

COYB today at Molyneux 💙💙

However, The Times stats page this morning says no team in the Premer League have won as many home games (nine) whilst keeping a clean sheet. They haven't won any matches at home where they have conceded. In fact, only Newcastle have scored at Molyneux and not won (1-1).

Go Blues and find the net!!

Wolves have lost seven at home, twice conceding four goals and twice conceding three goals. Another Brighton-type display from Everton would be so timely.

Nerves are starting to kick in – how dare this board, previous managers, directors of football (what a joke!!) land us in this position yet again.

The players need to step up today and the travelling support can drive them on. Defeat is not an option and neither is a draw really. The more I think about it, I am convinced Dom will play and Seamus will be at full-back supported by a Zimmer frame.

Good luck today, chaps, stay safe to those travelling and I hope to see you next Sunday pre-game! I owe Peter Moore a pint!!

We're on our way. I know you and many thousands of others would be there and if not, pacing around the house. In fact, I reckon we would sell out Molineux if they let us.

Derek, let's do that.

You took my dad from us in 2003 and he's the reason my family are all Blues and have endured their fair share of suffering this last 20 years. You owe us this one.

COYB

I managed to source 2 Bournemouth tickets (don't ask)
Anyway, she who must be obeyed, aka, The Keeper of the Purse, being an Aussie girl, also wanted to come and see what this Everton fuss was all about too.

So we're flying in from Brisbane on Wednesday and will be at the Harlech Castle for the festivities.

Hope to see you all, and Dave W, get that song sheet learnt ! lol

COYB today at Molyneux 💙💙

Lopetegui has stated he might play some fringe players though, so you never know.

My worry is that we have so much pressure, and they have very little - this could play into their hands, and even their fringe players could turn us over.

Our players had better be up for it today or we're in for a difficult afternoon. Score first and we have a chance. Concede first and we're up shit creek.

As for the left-back... there's going to be a lot of clenching if Holgate plays.

Good luck to you and the thousands of travelling Blues who as always will be giving the team unbelievable support.

I don't know why but, when I am sitting in my seat in the Upper Bullens, I don't feel as nervous as I do watching on the box. Maybe because I can shout and sing at the match whereas watching on the box just makes me more nervous.

I doubt my nerves will let me watch the last 15 minutes even the Brighton game I was still just popping in and out to watch 5 minutes then back pacing round the house again.

I don't know how this weekend will pan out results-wise for all the clubs still involved in the relegation battle. I just hope it's still in our own hands for the Bournemouth game.

COYB! Cornish Blue Steve Thomas has a dicky ticker, win and win well on the grounds of health and safety for the faithful as well as everything else please Everton😅 🙏 💙 UTFT!

I meant to add before the Cornish Blue (not to be confused with cheese or cat) is Steve Thomas, he is a long-standing Blue and a mate of Peter Moore who he has known and worked with for years. Because of location and work commitments, he can't always make it to Goodison, well once in a Blue Moon would be more accurate.

Dave W, you owe Peter Moore a pint? Gawd, he goes on about that every time I speak with him ! Only joking mate, he is a very generous guy, and a good Blue. Really looking forward to it all now, but let's get today out of the way first, and hope for a repeat of something like the Brighton game, but with a few missing from that line-up, that won't be so easy!

Now Wolves are safe it will be interesting to know how they approach this game in the knowledge they are now 'safe', do they just go through the motions, or try to give their home fans a last home game display?

I will ignore your further attempts at sarcasm and will confirm what is important today.

No change to the system.
No shuffling players around to fill the left-back spot
Play Holgate, Samuels-Smith or someone from the U18s or U23s that the coaches think could do a one-off job there.

Instead of the sarcasm, Micheal, try becoming a fantasy manager yourself. When I suggested in my recent article that playing Garner, Patterson and Mina would be a good idea and we beat Brighton 5-1, I couldn't believe it!

Finally, I'd suggest you have a word with the website designer. Under the players tab the sub tab says 'reserves', apparently it's very archaic.

Now back to the important thing, a win today for the Blues!

COYB!
WSNBM!

How can any Premier League club have a squad that has six centre-backs (seven if we count Branthwaite) but only one keeper not counting the two pensioner back-ups, one left-back, two right-backs (one of whom is 34) and one injury-prone striker after spending something like 𧼐 million in the last 10 years???

The level of squad mismanagement and downright incompetence has reached comedic levels. Whether we stay up or not, it will take years of spending to put this squad right with proper cover in all positions. I don't envy Dyche, especially if he keeps us up.

Trying to rebuild this squad while avoiding yet more relegation battles in the coming seasons will be a manager's worst nightmare. Let's hope whoever does finally take over the club gives him plenty of time and cash because he's going to need copious amounts of both.

As such, I hope Sean Dyche has been able to try and remove some of the pressure off them this week, that's defo what someone like Carlo would be prioritising.

If we manage to play with a bit of freedom, and not as if our lives depend on it, we might just get the win. I'd not be looking back to Brighton for a guide though. That was a freak game; a more accurate guide to the level we are at is the two away draws at Palace and Leicester.

We are 'not bad'. So you'd have to take a point at the end of the day if it's offered.

Frank, it was rather incumbent on him after despatching Digne.

That about says it, Andy!

Shortly getting on a flight from Hong Kong so no dodgy stream or live forum. But will be fretting about the result anyway. Not sure which is worse – not knowing or watching.

COYB

Christ, I will be on my knees praying shortly. You know, the one that goes, "Dear God, if you let them win, I will do anything you want, go to Mass every week… be nice to even the Jehovah's Witnesses who call around thinking they can convert me… Hang on, scratch that one!"

We can do this, I know we can.

Our Father, who art in heaven. hallowed be thy name...

I would take an away point in most circumstances, maybe even 99 times out of a hundred but against a team with nothing to play for and in order to keep things in our own hands we need the win.

Leeds going to West Ham knowing that a win puts them ahead of us as against Leeds going to West Ham knowing that a defeat means they can't catch us, that's the difference between a win and a draw today.

Just win!

This, the last away game of the season, will see the best-supported club cheering the team on as only they can. I am proud of every last one of you, you put any other club to shame. Thank you for being the best. Heads up show them who you are!

One last Hurrah guys.. give it everything you got, this little town of Hawera in New Zealand is going to get noisy at 2 am... even if I am the only one making the noise. With you guys all the way, thank you!!

If you get this on time, please give an extra positive shout or plenty more to the guys today!

Christine -Good on ya Lass, you'll hear me across the Tasman from Adelaide!

Don't get me wrong, a win would be just fine with me too!

There's a lot of kamikaze pilots in here today though. Death or glory aren't the only options here though… sometimes cold-headed pragmatism is what keeps your head above water when you're down in the reeds.

Speaking objectively, the perfect game today is one which is absolutely dire for the spectator, no shots on target, and we grab a scrambled winner from a corner. But a terrible nil-nil might just be priceless by the end of next week. I certainly don't want to concede in the 83rd minute cos we've left the back door open.

Its all up to the manager and players today, and to say it is a must win situation is putting it mildly. The future of this club is on the line and if the players can give 75% of the 100% the supporters have given we should succeed.

Time to start to get the sandwiches and beer behind the couch, or go for a long walk, amazing how quick 2hrs can go.